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Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to join the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the development of the side under a leader now well established from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over selection and leavings from the management team have all fueled the feeling that the most famous squad in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have moved out of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Ahead of their travel for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have won a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat Ireland when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising victory in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their current southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has sparked another wave of discussion regarding the direction of the team under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of destroying rivals from any part of the pitch and at any point of the match.

Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as their leader, who has handed out multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager responsible for scoring, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the second member of the coaching staff to exit after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each are still a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

When private equity firm the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the team.

That task has perhaps been more challenging by the lack of a global icon. The current captain and the collection of related players remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has expanded significantly. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a landmark success in the match during past tours.

Following the reduction of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also